Combined platform and step for boat transoms

ABSTRACT

Combined platform and step for boat transoms, including a member of angular shape movable to two supported positions in brackets mounted on a boat transom, in one position the angular member providing a narrow step for use in entering the boat, and in the other position the angular member providing an elongate platform from which work may be done upon an outboard motor carried on the boat transom. The apparatus is preferably located adjacent the location of the outboard motor.

United States Patent Mack, Jr.

[ 51 June 20, 1972 [54] COMBINED PLATFORM AND STEP FOR BOAT TRANSOMS[72] Inventor: Arthur F. Mack, Jr., Route 5, Box 30-D,

Beaumont, Tex. 77706 [22] Filed: March 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 123,620

[52] US. Cl. ..182/92 [58] Field of Search ..182/92, 20, 9]

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,785,842 3/1957 Phelps..182/92 3,017,949 1/1962 Harlan 182/92 3,195,680 7/1965 Thomburg..182/92 3,299,984 1/1967 Jvedahl ..182/92 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P.Machado Attorney-Carl B. Fox, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Combined platform and step for boat transoms, including amember of angular shape movable to two supported positions in bracketsmounted on a boat transom, in one position the angular member providinga narrow step for use in entering the boat, and in the other positionthe angular member providing an elongate platform from which work may bedone upon an outboard motor carried on the boat transom. The apparatusis preferably located adjacent the location of the outboard mo- I01.

6Clalms,4DrawingFigures COMBINED PLATFORM AND STEP FOR BOAT TRANSOMSSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the use of boats having outboard motors, itis frequently necessary to perform repairs and cleaning of the motorwhile the motor is disposed upon the transom of the boat and while theboat is in the water. Frequently work may be necessary while the boatoperator is at a location remote from shore and any repair facilities,so that it is incumbent that the work be done at the location of theboat and without undue loss of time. The apparatus may also be used forsimilar purposes on inboard-outdrive boat units, and may be used forvarious purposes on substantially any kind of boat, ship, or otherapparatus. The apparatus afforded by the invention is designed such thatit is out of the way and does not interfere with normal boat operationwhen it is not being used as a platform, the apparatus in the out of theway storage position still affording a step for use in entering the boatfrom the water or from a dock or shore.

Other apparatus is not available which will serve the utilities of thesubject apparatus. Many steps and ladders are available for use inentering a boat, but none is susceptible to being moved to a positionwherein it provides an extended platform from the transom (or otherlocation) of a boat.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, reference during the description being made to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly invertical cross section, showing the stern of a boat having an outboardmotor connected to the transom, and showing a preferred embodiment ofapparatus according to the invention affixed to the transom.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 in analternate position.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view showing a connectionassembly of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail, and first to FIGS. 1-3, reference numeral indicates a boat, onlythe rearward stern part of the boat being shown in the drawing figure.An outboard motor 12 is shown connected onto the boat transom 13. A pairof brackets 14,15 are each bolted by a pair of bolts 17,18 to thetransom of the boat, the bolts being received through holes through thetransom and appropriate washers 19,20 being provided in order that thebolted connections will be waterproof. The upper bolts 17 of eachbracket are roundheaded and relatively flat, while the lower bolts 18are largeheadcd bolts, the heads of the bolts 18 serving as stops aswill be later explained.

Each bracket 14,15 is of channel form, the sides having at their edgesinwardly projecting ell-shaped flanges 22,23. The

bracket channels 14,15 may each be made of a length of a channel formcalled Unistrut", or may be otherwise formed as desired or convenient.The flanges 22,23 are retaining flanges.

A step-platform member 30 is of generally ell-shaped form and has ashorter step portion 31 and a longer platform portion 32. Along theopposite sides of each of these there are provided projecting boltassemblies, each including a bolt 34,

. nut 35, spacer sleeve 36, and enlarged washer 37 (see FIG. 4).

from the upper ends of the brackets. The large heads of bolts 18 serveas stops to prevent downward movement of the respective sleeve 36therepast.

The step-platform member 30 is fabricated from a flat channel member,the side flanges being cut at opposite points and the channel memberbeing back-bent at the location to the ellshape shown in the drawings. Apair of gusset plates 41,42 are bolted in place across the angle of thechannel member by two of the bolt assemblies previously described and byadditional bolts 43. The angle to which the channel member is bent maybe as desired, or as required to match the transom angle of a particularboat. The angle shown in the drawings will be suitable for use with mostboat transoms.

The flat channel member from which step-platform member 30 is fabricatedmay be a channular stair tread. If a stair tread channel is used tofabricate the step-platform member, the tread surface thereof will serveto prevent a persons foot from slipping thereon, since the tread surfaceis designed for that purpose, having ribs and/or perforations and/orslots in its surface to increase the friction of a person's foot or shoethereon.

The step-platform member may be disposed in two positions, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In FIG. 1, the shorter portion 31 of thechannel is disposed within brackets 14,15, while in FIG. 2 the longerchannel portion 32 is placed within the brackets. The stepplatformmember is simply lifted up out of the brackets and moved to the otherposition and reinserted to change from the step arrangement of FIG. 1 tothe platform arrangement of FIG. 2. With the step-platform member as inFIG. 1, a short step is provided for use in entering the boat, the stepalso being useful for standing upon if desired for any purpose. In theFIG. 2 position, a longer, more elevated platform is provided alongsidethe outboard motor so that the motor may be worked on from the platform.Instead of an outboard motor, the boat may be driven by aninboardoutdrive unit, and the platform and step may be used as a workplatform as in the case of boats having outboard motor drives.

As will now be apparent, the invention affords a two position device foruse on the transoms of outboard or inboardoutdrive boats. In thevertical position of the step-platform member, it can be used to climbinto or out of a boat while the boat is on a trailer, or while the boatis in water. While in the vertical position, the apparatus will notinterfere with operation of the boat, since it is offset sideways fromthe motor and is of limited extent beyond the rear of the boat. Theapparatus is readily and easily changed from vertical to horizontalposition from inside the boat, without use of any tools. The apparatusin the horizontal position can be used for standing upon while workingon any part of either an outboard motor or an inboard-outdrive motorunit. The platform is at a level where the lower portion of the driveunit may be readily reached. The jobs for which the platform will beuseful include the changing of propellors, replacing of shear pins,untangling of lines, moss, or the like from the propeller, and for manyother uses. In using the apparatus, for improvement of safety, it ispreferred that portable equipment and passengers within the boat shouldbe moved to forward positions to compensate for the increased load onthe rear of the boat, it is preferred that persons working on theplatform or step while the boat is in the water use life jackets and/orlife lines, it is advantageous to secure the motor on an outboard unitor the lower unit of an inboard-outdrive in the highest position, and itis important to change the step-platform member to the step (vertical)position before commencing operation of the motor after repairs or otherwork is completed.

While a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention hasbeen described and shown in the drawings, many modifications thereof maybe made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spiritof the invention, and it is intended to protect by Letters Patent allforms of the invention falling within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Combined step-plafiorm apparatus, comprising an ellshaped memberhaving a shorter step portion and a longer platform portion extendingfrom the vertex thereof, at least two spaced projecting elementsextending laterally from each side of both said step portion and saidplatform portion spaced parallel bracket means adapted to be mountedsubstantially vertically on an object to which said apparatus is to beconnected, said projecting elements at opposite sides of said stepportion and at opposite sides of said platform portion beingalternatively receivable downwardly to rest in said spaced bracket meansand being removable upwardly from said spaced bracket means, wherebysaid ell-shaped member may be supported by said bracket means in oneposition with said step portion substantially horizontal and in a secondposition with said platform portion substantially horizontal.

2. The combination of claim 1, said bracket means each comprisingchannel means having the channel back mounted against said object andhaving inwardly projecting flange means from each channel side, saidstep and platform portions beingof channular shape the opposite sidesbeing receivable into said bracket channels, said projecting elementshaving terminal enlargements adapted to be received in said bracketchannels retained behind the inwardly projecting flanges of the outersides of said bracket channels, and stop means within the lower ends ofsaid bracket channels to prevent movements of said projecting elementsdownwardly therepast.

3. The combination of claim 2, each said stop means comprising the headof a bolt disposed through an opening through the back of the respectivechannel bracket for use in securing the bracket to the object.

4. The combination of claim 2, said ell-shaped member being formed of achannel-formed stair tread having opposite cuts through the sidesthereof and back-bent to said ell-shaped form, and having gusset meansconnected between said step and platfonn portions to reinforce said stepand platform adjacent said vertex.

5. The combination of claim 1, said bracket means being bolted to thetransom of a boat whereby said step position of said ell-shaped memberprovides a step for use in entering the boat and said platform positionof said ell-shaped member provides a platform for use in doing work atthe stern of the boat.

6. The combination of claim 7, said boat transom being slanted fromvertical, the angle of said ell-shaped member being such as to rendersaid step and platform substantially level when said ell-shaped memberis supported in said bracket means in the respective step and platformpositions.

1. Combined step-platform apparatus, comprising an ell-shaped memberhaving a shorter step portion and a longer platform portion extendingfrom the vertex thereof, at least two spaced projecting elementsextending laterally from each side of both said step portion and saidplatform portion, spaced parallel bracket means adapted to be mountedsubstantially vertically on an object to which said apparatus is to beconnected, said projecting elements at opposite sides of said stepportion and at opposite sides of said platform portion beingalternatively receivable downwardly to rest in said spaced bracket meansand being removable upwardly from said spaced bracket means, wherebysaid ell-shaped member may be supported by said bracket means in oneposition with said step portion substantially horizontal and in a secondposition with said platform portion substantially horizontal.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1, said bracket means each comprising channel meanshaving the channel back mounted against said object and having inwardlyprojecting flange means from each channel side, said step and platformportions being of channular shape the opposite sides being receivableinto said bracket channels, said projecting elements having terminalenlargements adapted to be received in said bracket channels retainedbehind the inwardly projecting flanges of the outer sides of saidbracket channels, and stop means within the lower ends of said bracketchannels to prevent movements of said projecting elements downwardlytherepast.
 3. The combination of claim 2, each said stop meanscomprising the head of a bolt disposed through an opening through theback of the respective channel bracket for use in securing the bracketto the object.
 4. The combination of claim 2, said ell-shaped memberbeing formed of a channel-formed stair tread having opposite cutsthrough the sides thereof and back-bent to said ell-shaped form, andhaving gusset means connected between said step and platform portions toreinforce said step and platform adjacent said vertex.
 5. Thecombination of claim 1, said bracket means being bolted to the transomof a boat whereby said step position of said ell-shaped member providesa step for use in entering the boat and said platform position of saidell-shaped member provides a platform for use in doing work at the sternof the boat.
 6. The combination of claim 5, said boat transom beingslanted from vertical, the angle of said ell-shaped member being such asto render said step and platform substantially level when saidell-shaped member is supported in said bracket means in the respectivestep and platform positions.